shaken up." Shasta responded. Pirate nuzzled her friendly.

"Don’t worry. It’s all over." Pirate comforted her. Shasta kept her head under Pirate’s and sighed. True she was shaken, So much had happen and in a flash it was done. But she smiled. Now there was nothing to really fear on Halloween night for the children.

***

Ashley walked with a trick or treat bag in one hand and the other hand was laying on Pirate’s back. The young girl cried when they brought Pirate home all injured but she was joyful that he was not severely injured. Ashley looked down and she patted Pirate’s head. Pirate looked up and she giggled. Pirate had an old white cloth draped over him. Two holes were cut out for his eyes and his muzzle kind of stuck out. When he wagged his tail, the entire cloth moved.

"I can’t wait! It’s going to be so fun! I wonder if Emily’s bringing either of her dogs with her?" Ashley asked her mother. Mrs. Baker smiled.

"We’ll just wait and see." Pirate smiled. The three were walking over to Emily’s but not for pumpkin carving. The best friends were going to go trick or treating together and Pirate couldn’t wait. As they neared the house, the two jack o lanterns were lit. The candles in them flickered a bit giving the goofy looking one a playful light. Ashley dashed up the steps and Pirate followed a little slower. Pirate had been sore but tonight he was feeling up to a little Halloween fun. Mrs. Baker adjusted Ashley’s witch hat. The little witch looked up and smiled. Ashley had a black cloak on with her black hat. She had dark purple shoes and a moon charm around her neck. Ashley knocked on the door.

Emily opened the door. Emily smiled. "Ashley!" Emily opened the door and stepped out. Emily was a princess. A light blue dress with plastic "glass" slippers. White gloves and children silver play jewelry with a tiara to finish it off. Ashley smiled.

"Emily don’t forget your trick or treat bag!" Her mother called out. She came to the door but the bag was not with her. Instead Shasta pranced out onto the porch with the bag in her jaws. "Thank you Shasta." Emily took her bag and patted her dog’s head. "See Shasta’s dressed up to." And she was…

A small lavender cloak was over her back. The cloak was attached to a fake sapphire brooch, which Pirate was guessing play jewelry. Blue and purple ribbons were braided to make Shasta’s bracelets. "And look I even painted her nails!" Emily spoke and she held up one of Shasta’s paws. Sure enough her nails were a sky blue. Pirate wondered how Emily did it and what was going through Shasta’s mind then. He chuckled. "She looks wonderful." Mrs. Baker said.

"It took forever to braid the bracelets." Emily’s mother spoke. Ashley giggled.

"She’s just so pretty!" Ashley exclaimed. Emily giggled at Pirate. Shasta turned her head and she tried not to giggle. "See I told you I was going to have Pirate be a ghost hound." Ashley spoke.

In a few minutes the friends, the two dogs, and Mrs. Baker were on their way to gather candy. Shasta smiled at Pirate. "I thought you were joking about the ghost hound thing." She spoke as they walked to their second house.

Pirate chuckled. "Nope I wasn’t kidding. And I thought you weren’t coming."

Shasta grinned a little before rubbing her tail under Pirate’s chin. Pirate would have melt right then and there. "Well things change." She spoke and gave hint she would not give him any clues.

As the night drew on, the children had collected a heavy load of candy. Even Pirate and Shasta received dog treats as well as many pats on the head. It was almost midnight before they started to head to Emily’s. Emily would stay the night at Ashley’s and maybe, Pirate had prayers that Shasta could stay the night. "Hi mom!" Emily said as her mother opened the door. Her mother smiled and let the guests enter the cozy home. Emily went to go change and get her over night bag. Emily’s mother prepared pumpkin spice cocoa for her guests. Ashley gladly accepted it. "Thank you."

Pirate flopped down and Shasta sat. "Man what a night!" Shasta giggled. Pirate looked at her. "Oh don’t tell me you weren’t almost freaked by that zombie fellow." Shasta just gave an innocent smile.

"Come Shasta and lets get your costume off." Emily’s mother spoke. Shasta followed her owner and Pirate would have to wait. Then he realized something, where was Avalanche?

It seemed as if Ashley read his mind. "Where’s your other dog?"

"I think she went to hang out with her other dog friends." Emily’s mother called out.

Ashley thought about it for a minute. "Then can Shasta stay the night to? She might get lonely by herself." Pirate rose to his feet and started to bark happily. "See even Pirate wants her over!"

Emily’s mother chuckled. "Only if he keeps his paws to himself." She spoke and let Shasta free. Shasta trotted to Pirate and just smiled. Pirate blushed. "Hey mom can Shasta stay the night to?" Ashley asked her mother. Mrs. Baker just smiled. "I guess so."

***

Emily and Ashley darted upstairs. Pirate and Shasta were to stay downstairs that night. The fire embers still glowed as Shasta laid down on the floor. Pirate joined her and then he realized how tired he was. He sprawled out and soon fell into a deep sleep. Shasta watched him before she leaned against him.

Scratch. Scratch. Pirate startled awake, upsetting Shasta in the process. "Ow! What is it Pirate!" She hissed.

"Some one’s at the door." Pirate spoke. He approached the door and took a few sniffs. He smiled.

"Well who is it?" Shasta asked but Pirate had slipped through the doggie door. She growled before joining him outside.

There standing on the porch was Crystal and Jay. Shasta smiled. "What are you guys doing here?" Pirate asked.

"We wanted to come by and thank you for everything." Crystal spoke before her eyes darted from Pirate to Shasta. "Sorry if you guys were in the middle of something."

"You just woke us up from our sleep that’s all." Shasta quickly explained. Jay just nodded with a smirk. "Any way’s Crystal, we’re your friends. We’ll help you with anything you ask."

Crystal smiled. "I guess you were right Pirate. There’s always something to live for, such as friends." Pirate gave a sheepish smile. Crystal faced Jay and nuzzled him. "And to live for Jay to." Jay blushed and his tail started to thump against the wooden floor. Pirate and Shasta exchanged looks. "Thank you for everything again. We’ll see you tomorrow." Crystal even though she limped she still held herself like a queen with a very happy Jay next to her. Pirate and Shasta watched them leave.

"Don’t they make a cute couple?" Shasta asked and Pirate nodded as his mind thought of him and Shasta making a cute couple. Pirate retreated back indoors and Shasta joined him. Shasta curled back up into a ball and she drifted back to sleep. This time Pirate watched her and sighed as his mind led him to daydreams of Shasta. He took the risk of curling his body around her. She didn’t budge and he gave a sigh of relief. He wandered into deep sleep.

***

Jay and Crystal were standing on a hill that wasn’t too far from Nome and looked over the landscape. Crystal had nightmares about Demon but Jay was always there to comfort her. They shared this morning in peace. "It’s really beautiful." Crystal pointed out and Jay nodded. Jay’s owner had tried to find a new home for Crystal but no one would take her. So to Jay’s joy, Crystal got to stay.

"Your owner’s really nice." Crystal said.

"You mean our owner." Jay corrected her.

She blushed a little. Crystal was still getting used to living with her crush. She had not had an owner in years but she gladly accepted the attention and care from Jay’s owner. She smiled. Crystal sat down and Jay sat down with her.

Crystal was right. The sunrise was beautiful and the sky just as colorful. He thought this would be the moment to tell her he liked her. But he was nervous and he had to admit that if she said no it would be awkward in the household. "You wanted to go look around town?" He chickened out.

"Let me enjoy this morning for a little more." Crystal spoke and Jay nodded. Jay sighed. Well at least he got to live with her.